User Reviews for Denavir topical

I have a whole routine when I get a cold sore. First, I ALWAYS have my Valtrex and Denavir on hand; as soon as I use them up I immediately get refills for the next outbreak, be it a few months or a year. They are with me when I travel. And have lots of qtips and tissue too. At the first sign, I start the Valtrex (the first 2 of 4 tablets). Then I start dabbing the spot with rubbing alcohol on a qtip. Let it dry then dab two or three more times. Each time using a clean qtip. Then apply Denavir. If I'm home I glob it on. Do this at least 3 times a day. Then take the last 2 tablets of Valtrex 8-10 hours or so later. Be VERY careful with contamination. After I brush my teeth I rinse my toothbrush in VERY hot water. When I'm sure the cold sore is completely gone I throw out the toothbrush and use a new one. After a shower or washing my face I don't dry my mouth area with my towel (I kind of inward pucker my lips to cover the cold sore). Then I take clean tissue and wipe my mouth area. Every time I do ANYTHING for the cold sore I immediately wash my hands. And try not to lick your lips either. My remedy does seem to dry out my lips a little but it's totally worth it 'cause it's drying out that dang cold sore quickly. Sometimes in as little as 3 days start to finish. Many years of trial and error and this really works well for me. Read More Read Less

Have been a long time user - I have had the apparent 'spread' effect it's incredibly frustrating. I've found using a safety pin to pop/drain the blisters (just barely pierce with the smallest amount of pressure) eases the pain and also 1. provides a path for the medicine to enter but more importantly 2. seemingly can curtain the actual damage to the skin the virus causes and minimizes scabbing. Overall though, I would not rate this drug highly. The pill form is more effective, but also far from a miracle cure. Read More Read Less

I've used Denavir for a number of years, but yesterday morning I started to feel the tingle so I immediately started the treatment, trying to catch it early. I don't know what's happening here. First off, I get coldsores on both sides of my upper lip, but never at the same time, until yesterday. As I was treating my left side, I noticed the skin of my lip on the right side was becoming incredibly smooth (which for me is always a sign of an upcoming sore, even if there's no tingle). So I applied the cream to that side as well, and I've repeated this every two hours. I woke up today and these look like they're going to be the worst cold sores I've ever had. They're huge (about 50% larger than typical, painful and red, though they haven't started to blister, yet). I've applied more denavir but I'm concerned that it's not working at all this time. I have no idea what to do. I researched some home remedies like vanilla extract and tree oil, but I'm still skeptical that these would work better than the highly praised Denavir. I'm just in a corner now, unsure of what to do. I'm going to keep applying the Denavir, though, as it's come through for me in the past. I have no idea what made the virus so angry this go around. By the way, I've found that if you DON'T squeeze the tube and simply open it, there will be enough pressure built up to make enough of the treatment come out for an application. I squeezed my tube for the first application and haven't since as the cream slowly oozes out on its own in about a second) I waste nothing!Read More Read Less

Both my mom and I have dealt with cold sores (usually a few a year) all our lives. We've tried everything from home remedies and Lysine to over-the-counter medicines, but nothing helps the way that Denavir does! It truly stops cold sores dead in their tracks. The key is to begin applying it as soon as you suspect you're getting a cold sore. But even if you wait till the blisters have formed, the Denavir still shortens the size and duration of the cold sore, just not as well as if you catch it early. My mom used to get cold sores so bad that her entire lip would swell up and she'd look like she'd been in a fight, but no more now that she has Denavir. One more thing that really helps: ICE. At the first sign of a cold sore, put an ice cube in a paper towel (to catch the drips) and press the ice directly over the cold sore. Hold it there for about 20 minutes or till the ice cube melts. Do it about once an hour if you can. Then once you get Denavir, apply the Denavir every 2 hours as directed, and only apply ice shortly before it's time for your next dose(so that the ice doesn't wash off the Denavir). The ice really keeps the swelling down and the blisters small, and combined with Denavir provides a potent 1-2 punch...I've had cold sores totally disappear in as few as 3 days using this method. As others have mentioned, Denavir is pretty expensive if your insurance doesn't cover it, but a tiny bit definitely goes a long way and it WORKS. The 5 oz. tube I just bought today (1-14-13) was $95 out-of-pocket, but has an expiration date of June 2015, so for me $95 for 2 1/2 years of treatments is well worth it.Read More Read Less

Although the blister usually forms regardless of when in the outbreak I start Denavir, it significantly shortens the time that I have it. Without it my cold sore could last 10-14 days before totally gone. With Denavir it is averages about 5 days. To me it is worth the cost. Cold sores are horrible little things and the less time I have to deal with one on my lip the better.

I'm 33 and have had cold sore outbreaks since I was 13 or so. They used to come only once every few years but the last 2-3 years I have had outbreaks every 3-4 months or so. After just dealing with it without medication for most of my life I finally broke down and saw a doctor about it. I was prescribed Denavir about 3 months ago and wish I would have gotten ahold of it a LONG time ago. It works great! The first time I used it I already had a big blister on my lip but it helped it heal so much faster and made it much less noticeable than normal. I just recently started to have another outbreak and put Denavir on it right away. I could still feel the tingle on my lip for several days but as long as I kept Denavir on it the blister never formed! My insurance covered most of it so cost wasn't a big factor for me but even if I had to pay full price it's worth not having to deal with a big embarrassing cold sore.Read More Read Less

My insurance paid half and I paid $211 for this little tube. It was worth every penny. Clears my cold sores in half the time. Cold sores make me sick like having the flu but this heads it off. More than happy with this medicine.

This is my first time using Denavir. Usually I suffer the 10+ days w/ Carmax (with Campho) and ice. This time, my 1st blister wasn't gone before a second one appeared! I didn't know there was a prescription topical treatment, & I wasn't getting them frequent enough to justify taking a pill to prevent outbreaks. I give Denavir 4/5 stars for Effectiveness b/c it didn't take away the pain or soreness on the first day I started using it. Although it seems to have cut the time of the cold sore to less than half, and that's AFTER the blister already formed. If I used this at the first sign I wonder how much quicker it would have worked. I gave 4/5 for Ease of use because the metal tube doesn't allow for the product to re-enter the container, creating wasted product to be excreated. I understand this packaging may be to prevent contaminants from entering the container, but it is potentially wasteful. Easy to apply with a Q-tip!Read More Read Less

Denavir works pretty well. I put it on as soon as i felt the tingle and it lessened the severity of the outbreak. It did not really help treat it, but it helped a little. It went away in 5 days so I'm happy.

I have suffered with the herpes virus for 10 years and being allergic to Valtrex I had to suffer if I got a sore. Then I switched doctors and he suggested the Denavir. It has worked wonderfully for me.

I finally sought the advice of a doctor after my most recent cold sore. I get one, maybe two a year but they're embarrassing and I hate them so much! Plus they always take like 10 days to heal and usually double in size in the first few days. My doc gave me a prescription for Valtrex (generic, $10 copay w/ my insurance) and Denavir ($40 copay w/ my insurance). I started using both within 10 hours of waking up with it, though the cold sore had already blistered. I attribute it to both drugs, but it seems like the combination stopped the sore from growing in size and immediately started it in the healing process! It's gonna take a few days to heal still, but usually 2 days in, it would be a hot mess! I work in the public with many professional clients and even was able to visit my clients today without feeling majorly embarrassed. I understand it's really expensive without insurance and there's no generic available... I'm not sure what I'd do if it wasn't covered. But, it seemed worth it. It is a very tiny tube though - a little goes a long ways! It just sucks that when you remove the lid, sometimes you lose a little. Seems like they could do something like Abreeva does. Read More Read Less

I've suffered from cold sores for years. Usually stress related, and I can always count on an appearance every December. At times it's been so bad I wouldn't go out in public. This stuff is fantastic. I apply at the first sign and while it never prevents it completely, it's nowhere near the swollen mess I used to experience. My doctor also recommended Lysine. I take 1000mg daily. Bet that helps too.

Very effective and worth asking the doctor for. If cant get, releev is over the counter and also works well.

I have always gotten cold sores since as long as I can remember, early childhood. I have been using denavir for about 10 years and it has been the most effective for me. However, it doesn't always work. I hope I am not getting immune to it. Its always been like that though. Most of the time it does work, if I catch it right away. I hate the persisitent outbreak where I am working on one that is wanting to come out but just lingers for a few days. Then a few days later it comes back. Wierdest damn thing, this virus is. I hate it, but have excepted it better these days because there is not a damn thing you can about it. The manufacturer should make the tubes out of plastic because when you use it so often the metal like tube rips in the sides because the tube gets smashed together. They should also make a bigger supply. Honestly they should make a commercial because people will buy this med because it really works at reducing the bad effects and increasing the healing time. Read More Read Less

I get cold sores once a year-typically when i am sick- and as soon as the cold sore starts forming i start applying(with a clean qtip) every 2 hours-its powerful stuff and can help heal the cold sore much faster then without treatment. make sure not to apply with your finger.

I get cold sores very often i try everything to get rid oif them and nothing really worked without taking alot of time. I called my doctor and she perscribed denavir and it seems to be working fast and i would tell anyone with cold sores to ask there doctor about it.

This medication works on cold sores and keeps them from becoming huge blisters. Apply at the first pain or tingling and you'll stop the sore in its tracks. Yes,it's prescription and yes it is a small tube but you really won't use that much because it actually works. I've used it for several years now.

I feel like this tiny tube was not worth the 35 dollers I paid for it. When I squeeze a little out next thing I know the alot of the medicine is out of the tube! I have tried Denavir and Abreeva and can't say that either one works any better. I will probubly stick to Abreeva because it has a pup aplicator and you dont waste the medicine and it is about 15 dollers cheeper. I wasnt impressed.

I took my son to several doctors for an outbreak on his chin with no results. Finally a dermatologist prescribed him Denavir and it works great within a few days. I highly recommend it!